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PebblePad accessibility statement

PebblePad is a web browser based system that has been developed by the supplier which is also called PebblePad. It is used by applicants to upload portfolio submissions and it is managed by The Student Systems and Records department, Academic Registry at the University of the Arts London (UAL). UAL staff also used PebblePad to review the portfolio submissions of prospective students.

This accessibility statement applies to PebblePad and its use at UAL.

We commit to ensuring that the browser based systems we use including this website are as accessible as possible. We want as many people as possible to be able to use it and this includes prospective students as well as UAL staff.

PebblePad have designed this website to meet the needs of the widest possible range of users including those who may require assistance. It has been designed to use assistive technologies and to support alternative approaches to system use over a standard keyboard and mouse approach. This means that you should be able to:

  • access the website regardless of the device and browser you are using
  • zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
  • navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
  • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software

Our supplier PebblePad is committed to providing the best possible accessibility support is through an ongoing process of improvement and refinement, always adhering to the most current publication of the WCAG guidelines. More information is available in the Voluntary Product Assessment Template (VPAT) (PDF 275KB) issued by PebblePad in April 2019.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We know that some parts of the website are not fully accessible:

  • PebblePad has pre-set access keys which may prove problematic for some Keyboard users.
  • Most elements have a keyboard focus although in some cases a visual focus isn’t present and, in some cases, the visual focus isn’t always logical.
  • Most pages have appropriate titles but some don’t.
  • Some images such as logos may be missing appropriate alternative (alt) text.
  • Some links do not have an obvious purpose.
  • A small number of animations that last longer 5 seconds can’t be paused or stopped.
  • In some cases, large tables may require two-way scrolling.
  • Some areas of PebblePad are missing the relevant labels or instructions when content requires user input.
  • Colour contrast may not be sufficient in some areas of the system.
  • If you manually change line, word or letter spacing you may lose some functionality or content.
  • Some error suggestions may not be adequate if an input error occurs.
  • PebblePad’s help video may not be entirely accessible and alternative text-based versions cover only some of the content.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in an alternative, more accessible format or if you cannot complete a specific task, please contact PebblePad Support: PebblePad.Support@arts.ac.uk

Please include details of the content you need and the required format, the service you are trying to access or the task you are trying to complete. We will then work with our suppliers and the relevant members of UAL staff to get you what you need.

We aim to provide you with an initial response within two working days and will provide clear information about how we will deal with your request.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We continue to lobby the supplier to make accessibility improvements to their system. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: PebblePad Support PebblePad.Support@arts.ac.uk

We aim to provide you with an initial response within two working days and will provide clear information about how we will deal with your enquiry or complaint.

If you feel we have not answered your enquiry or complaint satisfactorily, please contact us again. We will escalate your enquiry or complaint to the Head of Student Systems and Records, Academic Registry.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

For information about contacting us by phone or to arrange a visit to our offices please visit the Contact us page.

More information about accessing our buildings is available from AccessAble.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

UAL is committed to making its applications accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

  • Some elements are missing a visual focus. This doesn't fully meet WCAG success criterion 2.4.7 Focus visible (Level AA).
  • Most areas of the system have a logical focus order but in some cases it is not logical. This doesn't fully meet WCAG success criterion 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A).
  • Some pages don’t have appropriate titles. This doesn't fully meet WCAG success criterion 2.4.2 Page Title (Level A).
  • Some images such as logos may be missing appropriate alternative (alt) text. This doesn't fully meet WCAG success criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A).
  • Some links do not have an obvious purpose or are missing context. This doesn't fully meet WCAG success criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (level A).
  • A small number of animations that last longer 5 seconds can’t be paused or stopped. This doesn't fully meet WCAG success criterion 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide (Level A).
  • In some cases, large tables may require two-way scrolling. This doesn't fully meet WCAG Success criterion 1.4.10 Reflow (Level AA).
  • Some areas of PebblePad are missing the relevant labels or instructions when content requires user input. This has not fully met WCAG Success Criterion 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A).
  • Colour contrast may not be sufficient in some areas of the system and some controls may not sufficient colour contrast. This doesn't fully met WCAG success criteria 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA) and 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast (Level A)
  • If you manually change line, word or letter spacing you may lose some functionality or content. This doesn't fully meet WCAG success criterion 1.4.12 Text Spacing (Level AA).
  • Some error suggestions may not be adequate if an input error occurs. This doesn't fully meet WCAG success criteria 3.3.3 Error Suggestion (Level AA).
  • PebblePad’s help video may not be entirely accessible and alternative text-based versions cover only some of the content. This doesn't fully meet WCAG success criteria 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Pre-recorded) (Level A).

Disproportionate burden

UAL has limited user access to PebblePad and we have no control whatsoever over the design, the functionality, the usability or the accessibility of the system or its web browser interface. Therefore, we are unable to make any accessibility fixes ourselves and are wholly reliant on the supplier to improve the accessibility of their system.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

Although we have no control over the accessibility of the system, we continue to lobby PebblePad to make accessibility fixes and improve the user experience for all our users.

When our contract with PebblePad is due to be renewed we will take the accessibility of the system into account.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 18 September 2020.

This website was last tested by Pebble on April 2019. A basic accessibility audit was also done in-house by UAL employees in September 2020. This basic accessibility audit was done using the WAVE browser extension and VoiceOver for Mac.

More information is available in the Voluntary Product Assessment Template (VPAT) (PDF 275KB) issued by PebblePad in April 2019.